Diabetic Retinopathy FAQ
Being diagnosed with diabetes can be a scary time in your life. You might wonder how this will affect your overall health, including your vision. You might have even heard of diabetic retinopathy before, and are now wondering what this condition entails and what steps you can take to prevent it from negatively affecting your life.
At Lavenburg Medical Group, we're here to help you answer any questions about diabetic retinopathy, as well as provide ophthalmology services to make sure your retinopathy does not progress into total vision loss. We want to help our community members of Elkton MD, and Newark, DE, get the eye care services they need.
What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Diabetic Retinopathy is a condition in which the blood vessels of the eye become affected by high blood sugar levels. These blood sugar levels rise due to the presence of diabetes. Diabetes causes extra growth of fragile blood vessels, bleeding, and damage to the back of the eye.
What are the Symptoms of Diabetic Retinopathy?
When diabetic retinopathy first emerges, there might not be any associated symptoms. However, as time progresses, people can begin to notice symptoms including:
- Inability to see colors
- Increase in floaters
- Black spots in your vision
- Lack of central vision
- Blurry vision
If you begin to notice these symptoms, or if you know you have diabetes, it's best to visit an eye doctor as soon as possible so you can prevent diabetic retinopathy from worsening.
How Can an Eye Doctor Help Me?
It's important to visit your eye doctor regularly, especially if you've now been diagnosed with diabetes. Your eye doctor can dilate your eyes and conduct imaging tests to help get a better look inside of your eyes. He or she will be able to see inside of the eyes at the tiny blood vessels in the retina and check for any signs of damage from diabetic retinopathy. Unfortunately, damage from diabetic retinopathy is permanent, so preventative care is crucial.
Find the Care You Need at Lavenburg Medical Group
Whether you're struggling with diabetic retinopathy or another condition, we want you to know we'll be here to help you with your vision disorder and provide other comprehensive eye care services. Call us today to book an appointment at our clinic in Elkton, MD at (302) 993-0722.